How to Cure Teacher Burnout

If I were conducting research to write a teacher burnout research paper my test subjects would be plentiful and could be found in any school building across the planet right now.  Are you dealing with teacher burnout and stress from this past school year? Let me show you how you can show up well for class this Fall.

First Step to Curing Teacher Burnout

The first question you have to ask this summer is are you taking time for self-care? How will you be able to show up this fall, prepared to give your best, if you are still reeling from this past school year?  You have to figure out a way to slow the stress and stop stressing out all summer? 

Bottom line, you have to replenish your body and restore your needs if you plan to be effective in the fall. You can’t give to all those little people what you don’t have inside of you.

Dealing With Teacher Burnout

What does this look like for you? You may start eating healthy, exercising daily, reading fiction books, going to lunch with friends, or taking really long baths. Whatever you begin this summer, make it doable so you can continue it in the fall. You need to restore your mind and body so you can be the best person possible for the people in your classroom.

I never understood this and always push myself to the max each summer. I would bust it and try to get ahead by doing lesson plans and prep work for the fall. But every September, I would find myself depleted because I had not recharged. Take time for yourself. There is NOTHING wrong with that! You have permission!!!!!

How to Make This Your BEST Year Ever

When you are in the classroom, you make the most impact when you are present. By that, I mean cultivating relationships and having meaningful conversations. No student will ever come back to your classroom 15 years later and thank you for numeracy or literacy! But they will come back and thank you for spending time at recess listening to them or letting her use your smelly markers at rainy day recess. 

It is the small meaningful moments that capture a child’s heart and can forever change their outlook on life. We have to be present in order to make a difference. I am going to say that again, we have to be present in order to make a difference. 

Intentional Time

My most meaningful moments always came from intentional time spent with my students.  Learn this from me TODAY!  I would randomly choose one student every other week to pour into. This was a very intentional act. They did not know they were my student of the week, but I did. No, I was not perfect at always doing something intentionally, but I tried to do this weekly. 

Sometimes I would sit at the student table at lunch and talk to several of them about the weekend or sports events they were participating in.  I feel it is very important for all students to feel included.  About midyear, I would ask everyone to write down three people they would like to sit next to.  I could always quickly pick out who was being left out by doing this little exercise.  They would not know it, but I would easily change seating assignments to help include those often left out.

The number of lives that I’ve touched will never be known by me this side of heaven.  But I do know one day my Heavenly Father will reveal to me where I made a difference. Again, these were very intentional acts, not things that would just happen.  Here is a wonderful article about making a difference for the Kingdom!

Looking for more articles to get ready for the upcoming school year? Check this one out!